Meet Our Mari

Do you know a child or loved one with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)? Chances are you do. According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, one in every 68 children will be diagnosed with ASD. That means over one million children in the United States have ASD.

The Mari Hall Family Foundation was created to promote awareness and make a difference in the lives of those individuals living with ASD. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the foundation seeks to raise funds to assist in the provision of local early intervention services and programs. Additionally, the foundation awards an annual scholarship to a graduating high school senior who has best contributed to the welfare of his or her special needs peers and plans to pursue a career in special education.

My name is Kim Piro and I have a 13 year old daughter with autism named Jamie. The journeys through the paths of autism that my family have gone down have been long and windy ones with so many difficult stops, however so many rewarding ones as well.

The Mari Hall Family Foundation, Inc., is pleased to announce that Kathleen Castrilli of Cheshire, Connecticut is the recipient of its 2015 Maureen C. Hall Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated a commitment as a volunteer to and for developmentally challenged individuals and causes throughout his or her school career, and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in special education as an undergraduate student in an accredited four year college or university program.

Kathleen is a member of the Cheshire High School graduating class of 2015. She will attend Sacred Heart University for its five year Special Education program.